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Tips, tricks & advice for first foreign bike trip to Rotoura
How's it going. Myself and a few buddies have decided to take a trip to Rotoura, NZ in November for a wk. Looking forward to it as it is Rotoura but its also my first trip biking that can't be got to in a car. As the excitement builds was just hoping to get some feed back off nobmober's who have been there or who have any advice for foreign trips.
Were booked up with Air NZ, they're charging an extra $20 for the bike's as sporting goods when they are getting checked in.
We've a HiAce booked for when we arrive and it'll be our mode of transport for the wk.
I'm thinking about purchasing the Evoc travel bag from chainreactions to transport the bike. Anyone used it or have thoughts on something else? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...
Have no accommodation booked yet. Anyone recommend places, will be 4 of us.
Lastly the fun part, I've been checking out trails and what a selection there is. What are peoples personal recommendations. Looking for single track and XC
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Hey, you're in for a treat!
We stayed at the Birchwood Spa Motel last year. Very close to the trails & close ride to the two main shops (Pak'n'Save & that other one we never went to). This isn't exactly central, but it's not so bad.
If you stay here and only want to ride the forest then there is no need to hire a car. You can get transport from the airport with bikes for around 10 bucks a person IIRC.
We have soft, padded bags from CRC (no longer sell 'em, but them and the T7 own branded bike bags look very similar) and they work well and aren't too heavy. Watch out for the weight of the more robust bags is all!
Here's a few GPS trails to follow when you get there... all from the Birchwood Spa. The last one is certainly the pick with over 1000m vertical in 32 kays distance
Sorry there's nothing longer in here, I wasn't on form this year but it was still top fun!
Enjoy!
Oh, OK then... and one from last year
Stayed at the Alpin Motel - this was budget but right next to the trails. The person who runs it is a mtb'er and he even arranged a hire of a carbon Yeti while I was there.
Spent 2 days riding the trails last year. It took a while for me to work out that it is all basically gravity fed, it is difficult to pick trails to take you up so ascending is either riding fire trails or using the shuttle bus. After one fire trail ascent I came to the same conclusion that everyone makes - your legs should be saved for better things than griding up fire trail.
Have a great trip - you will love it!
Most of the accommodation is very close and you can ride to the park. On the weekends they operate a shuttle service so the uphills are easy. Personally I think that you start the day off with a decent ride, both up and down, the uphills are best using the fire roads ( easiest gradient). Then after a decent lash at the whole park when you are tired you can use the shuttle for a couple of downhill runs at the end of the day. Don't miss Billy T or Split Enz, just don't miss them. A soft pack is fine for travel - I have always used a Ground Effect Tardis - it only just fits the bike in but that's what you want - along with 1/2 kilo of bubble wrap.
Mmmmmmm... opinions, opinions.
Accom: anywhere will do, as long as it is in the town of Rotorua. It is only a 10 minute ride to the trails. The closer you are to the city, then the closer you are to the evening life, shops, etc. You will need that coz for sure you will need heaps of food from the supermarket.
Wheels: if you hire some wheels, you can drive to some other awesome trails around the place. These are not more than an hour or so away. Lake Taupo is rated the best by some we spoke to there, and it is only 1 hour away. Just speak to anyone in the LBS, don't worry you have plenty of choice, there are like 10 of them in a town the size of Manly. It is Mtb heaven, I tells ya!
Trails: +1 for Billy T and Split Enz. Those are tops, with fantastic views. If you are not too tired, then Old Chevy is fantastic too. My favourite was the all-mountain style trail at the very top of the hill, called Tuhoto Ariki. That was Mtb heaven if you like all-mountain technical trails. Plus all the semi-DH trails like Little Red Riding Huck, Corners, and Roller Coaster were truly awesome. They were all a blast.
If you can manage it, I would ride the trails with a 5-6 inch all-mountain bike. Otherwise, any basic XC machine will do. I did it on a 3.5" Anthem and it did the job.
Pack a good camera, as you will have some awe inspiring scenery and views to shoot. It is not all about the riding, well, not almost, but the scenery is great too.
Pack some extra packing tape, some bike tools, etc in your bike kit as baggage. Don't put it in your carry on or it will be taken off you.
Happy trails!
If you can make your way to Taupo, its well worth the journey to do W2K. A little under a 2 hr drive to get there from Rotorua.
At the top of the climb, you have amazing views and the headland run is phenomenal!
Rolling hills, sweeping berms and it seemed endless at one stage. Probably best run of entire trip!
Basically, the runs the Whaka which Little Ditty pointed out are the goods. Add A-Trail to the mix and you're in for an awesome time.
Buy a map from Eleanor and Ed's cafe at the carpark for $5. Goes to a good cause.
We did it campervan style which made it pretty interesting amongst just dudes.
7 of us hit Rotorua in march this year. We hire a rent a dent Van for 4 days, Hired all full suspension GT & Scott from the outdoorsman right next to the trails. We hired a guide from there for $ 150 for the day on the fri. Sat /sun all shuttle rides up the mountain. We stayed at Lake okereka in a townhouse cottage. $ 1000 NZ for 4 nights between 7 . good value at the top end of the scale Great times to be had. Try the white water rafting while your there..
@rob, cheers, really appreciate the gps files.
@little-ditty, im heading over with an anthem x2, its seen me good so far
@everyone else, cheers for the bits of advice.
were renting the van to give us the oppurtunity to try out some other trails. I was watching the video from AMB and Taupo is definitly on the cards for a day trip.
Gonna hopefully go with 3-4 dyas riding planned and then try get some advice off locals and LBS
It seems as though Billy T and Split Enz are a must.
Also keen on Little Red Riding Huck and Roller Coaster.
Camera is bust so thats something that needs to be added to the shopping list.
Never been myself. My sister-in-law wants me to come with them to see her family next year and i would love to take my bike. She said her family lives about an hours drive from Rotorua. Ive been curious about customs and dirt on the bike. Its so hard to clean all those tight little spots. My bike is never 100% clean unless its just had a full service. I would imagine the return would be a nightmare.
It's really not that hard to clean the bike for shipping.
Use a scrubbing brush on the tires, and as you have to dismantle it for packing it's easy to get a rag into all the nooks and crannies.
Certainly worth the effort